Tricyanide building block K[Ru(ttpy)(CN)(3)] and [Mn-III(salen)](ClO4) have been used to design and synthesize a heterobimetallic one-dimensional (1D) zigzag chain complex 1, [Ru-II(ttpy)(CN)(3)Mn-III(salen)] (ttpy = 4'-(p-tolyl)-2,2' : 6 ,2 '' -terpyridine, salen = N,N'-ethylenebis-(salicylideneaminato)dianion). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows complex 1 crystallizes in orthorhombic Pbca space group and the asymmetric unit of 1 contains one [-NC-Ru-II (ttpy)(CN)(mu-CN)-Mn-III-(salen)-]molecule. In the structure of 1, each [Ru-II (ttpy)(CN)(3)](-) connects two [Mn-III (salen)](+) with two cyanide groups in a cis-conformation, and in turn each [Mn-III (salen)](+) unit links two [Ru-II (ttpy)(CN)(3)](-) building blocks in a trans-conformation, resulting in a 1D [-NC-Ru-II-CN-Mn-III-](n) chain. Furthermore, the electronic absorption spectra and luminescence spectroscopy of complex 1 have also been studied.